You can now run Tasker tasks straight from Google Assistant

For many of our readers, Tasker needs no introduction. It’s the best app on Android for automation, and since the original developer passed the torch to João Dias nearly 3 years ago (!), it keeps getting even better. With the update to version 5.11.14, Tasker tasks can now be called right from Google Assistant.

As the developer explains over on Reddit, you can say “OK Google, run my task in Tasker” where “my task” matches the name of any of your tasks. Alternatively, you can swap “run” for “start”, “do”, “set”, or “send” in case you prefer those, and the developer is considering adding “turn” to the mix so you can say something like “turn on my PC” or “turn off my lights.” You can even run a task by voice and set a few variables at the same time by saying something like “OK Google, run my task with something and other” which sets the variables %par1 to “something” and %par2 to “other”. Your task, then, can be set up to parse the %par1 and %par2 variables to do whatever you want.

If you want even more control, you can also create a Profile using the new “Assistant Action” event. This will allow you to receive variable inputs. For example, you can ask Google Assistant to “run turn off my bedroom lights in 5 minutes with Tasker” to trigger the Assistant Action Profile, and then parse the “wait 5 minutes” and “turn off my bedroom lights” parts of the query using Tasker’s Pattern Matching to do your desired actions in the correct order.

The video embedded below shows off a couple of things you can do with Tasker’s new Google Assistant integration. Many of the things the developer shows off require an extra plugin or two, but not all do. The app has always had a bit of a learning curve, but the payoff can be big. In my opinion, it’s also fun to play around with the dozens of different Actions and plugins, but to each their own.

While Tasker’s new Google Assistant integration is quite powerful, it only supports English right now. That’s apparently a limitation of the Assistant App Actions feature that Google built, though. The Tasker dev says that he’ll add support for other languages as soon as Google allows it.

If you’re interested in automating your life with Tasker, then download the app from Google Play. It costs $3.49 but is free with a Google Play Pass subscription. You can try the app for free for 7 days if you download the APK from the developer’s website, but we think it’s definitely worth the purchase considering how much it offers.

Tasker 5.11.14 Full Changelog

• Removed alert that “Assistant Action” event was not working since it’s now working
• Added Assistant Actions video tip
• Fixed building apps with App Factory on some devices in some situations
• Fixed link to forum on Russian translation
• Made “alert()” function in javascript return which button was pressed
• Made “BT Connected” event able to select BT devices when being setup
• Added “GenerateUUID()” function to “Tasker Function” action
• Made it possible for users to use custom redirect URL in “HTTP Auth” action by specifying it directly there
• Fixed issue where sometimes a notification would show up saying that Tasker was not authorized when that wasn’t the case
• Fixed license checking in Tasker in some situations
• Only use location permission in “Test Net” action if really needed
• Allow “Perform Task” action’s Parameter input fields to have more than one line of input
• Fix bug where sometimes when copying files to external SD card with uppercase extensions the wrong extension could be used in the destination file
• Fixed using Project/Profile/Task variables in Javascript in some situations
• Disallow using non-monitored built-in variables in “Variable State” state. Was allowing it by mistake
• Fix using invalid variable names in plugins in some situations
• Fix “Steps Taken” event on some devices
• Fixed small crashes

Tasker ($3.49, Google Play) →

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Mozilla cracks down on supercookies with Firefox 85

Mozilla on Tuesday detailed what’s new in Firefox 85, which we talked about last week when the update was released on Android. There are a lot of changes in this update, but one of the biggest is Firefox’s crackdown on “supercookies.”

Firefox has already gone to great lengths to block cookies, and the newest update makes the browser even more private and secure. Changes made in Firefox 85 will make the browsing experience even safer by partitioning network connections and caches by the website being visited.

“Firefox now protects you from supercookies, a type of tracker that can stay hidden in your browser and track you online, even after you clear cookies,” Mozilla explains in a blog post. “By isolating supercookies, Firefox prevents them from tracking your web browsing from one site to the next.”

Mozilla claims Firefox 85 greatly reduces the effectiveness of cache-based supercookies by eliminating a tracker’s ability to use them across websites. The update partitions all of the following caches by the top-level site being visited: HTTP cache, image cache, favicon cache, HSTS cache, OCSP cache, style sheet cache, font cache, DNS cache, HTTP Authentication cache, Alt-Svc cache, and TLS certificate cache.

Mozilla said Firefox 85 also partitions pooled connections, prefetch connections, preconnect connections, speculative connections, and TLS identifiers. “This partitioning applies to all third-party resources embedded on a website, regardless of whether Firefox considers that resource to have loaded from a tracking domain.”

Firefox 85 also makes it easier to save and access your bookmarks, and the password manager now allows you to remove all your saved logins with one click. Before, you had to delete each login individually.

These updates are an appetizer for a larger update to come in Firefox 90, which is expected to be released in mid-May. When the update arrives, it will introduce a redesign that tweaks the browser UI, including visual changes to the New Tab page and the hamburger menu.

You can download Firefox 85 for your device of choice now, and start protecting yourself from those supercookies.

Firefox Browser: fast, private & safe web browser (Free, Google Play) →

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[Update: Coming Soon] Google is preparing to release a Tiles API for Wear OS

Update 1 (01/26/2021 @ 06:10 PM ET): Google has merged the commit that implements the Wear OS Tiles API. Click here for more information. The article as published on December 18, 2020, is preserved below.

In 2019, Google released “Tiles”, a new feature that lets you show small, informative app widget cards on Wear OS smartwatches. Google added Tiles for a handful of things, including Goals, Next event, Forecast, Heart rate, Headlines, and timer, allowing users to easily access important info by swiping left on the watch face. At launch, you could only add 5 Tiles, but with the Wear OS app v2.40, Google raised the limit, letting users add up to 10 Tiles on their smartwatch. Since Tiles was released, smartwatch OEMs like Mobvoi have also built their own Tiles.

However, to this day, Google has never released an official API for Tiles, which would let third-party Wear OS app developers offer their own Tiles. Fed up with the delay, some developers reverse-engineered the internal Tiles API that Google uses in the Wear OS app to create an UnofficialTileAPI. While this has led to several third-party app devs successfully creating Tiles, it’s not recommended to rely on undocumented APIs since they can change at any time, causing breakage. But it appears developers will not have to resort to unofficial ways to build Tiles in a not so distant future.

Finally, nearly a year and a half after the debut of Tiles, it looks like Google is preparing to introduce an official Tiles API. An AOSP commit titled “initial commit of Wear Tiles API” adds the Tiles API to the AndroidX support library.

Initial commit of Wear Tiles API.

This checks in the app-side of the Wear Tiles API. Tests (and testing libs) have not yet been added, but will come in a future CL. This version exists really to start kicking off API reviews.

Once this commit is merged, developers will be able to call this API after updating to the latest AndroidX version.

With the release of the official Tiles API, we should see more developers jumping on board and bringing exciting new Tiles for Wear OS-powered smartwatches. We don’t know when Google plans to release the API publicly. But we’ll be keeping a close eye on the development and sure to let you know if we learn anything new.

---

Update 1: Initial commit merged for Wear OS Tiles API

Now that the initial commit implementing the Wear OS Tiles API has been merged (h/t @kevinslife2), it won’t be long before developers will be able to officially add Tiles to their Wear OS app. However, Google has yet to conduct API testing, so the company may not make the API immediately available in the Wear AndroidX Jetpack library. We’ll update this article once it’s generally available.

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YouTube Music is rolling out a grid layout for singles and albums from artists

Update 1 (01/26/2021 @ 05:57 PM ET): YouTube Music’s grid layout for artists’ albums and singles is now widely rolling out on Android, iOS, and the web. The article, as published on December 18, 2020, is preserved below.

After killing off Google Play Music earlier this year, Google has been making constant efforts to bring YouTube Music up to par with the outgoing app. The company has rolled out several new features to the app over the last few months, and it has also enabled a few features for free accounts that were previously only available to users who had a premium subscription. Along with that, Google has also tested a couple of UI changes for the app, like introducing a new activity bar that gives users quick access to four personalized playlists. Now, Google is testing another new UI change with a couple of users that will change the Singles and Album layouts on artist pages.

The new Singles and Albums layout in YouTube Music was recently spotted by Reddit user u/Iordbrack, who shared the following screenshots. As you can see, the updated layout displays all the singles and albums from an artist in a grid format instead of the current list layout.

The new grid layout brings the album art to the forefront and shows the song name and release year underneath. As of now, it isn’t clear if the app will provide users with an option to switch between these layouts, but I sure hope it does. I personally prefer the existing list format as it shows a larger number of songs/albums at once. The grid layout, on the other hand, barely shows 6 songs/albums. While I’m not a fan of the grid layout, I do appreciate the new cast button in the top right corner, which will make it much easier to cast to other devices from YouTube Music.

Which layout do you prefer? Do you think Google should add a toggle to let users pick the Singles/Albums page layout? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

YouTube Music - Stream Songs & Music Videos (Free, Google Play) →

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Looking for new computer accessories? Score big discounts on the Razer Raptor, the Seiren series, and more!

If you’ve been lucky enough to get your computer upgraded with a new processor and graphics card, then you know what’s next–a slew of shiny new computer accessories to go with your new rig! Your old stuff may work, but there’s nothing better than a new monitor to show off your rig’s new power, or just the feel of a new, clicky mechanical keyboard. It’s awesome! Razer gets the feeling, too, and they happen to have all sorts of computer accessories at a discount. Keep on scrolling to see how much you can save on the Razer Raptor, the BlackWidow keyboard, and more!

So, that new monitor I mentioned above? The Razer Raptor 27-inch monitor is $100 off at both Amazon and Best Buy! Featuring a WQHD display, 144Hz refresh rate, and an RGB-lit base, this is definitely going to please any LED-loving gamer. The monitor base also has built-in cable management, which, really, more bases should have. This powerful and bright monitor can be yours for just $600!

Razer Raptor 27-inch Monitor

Buy at Amazon

Razer Raptor 27-inch Monitor

Buy at Best Buy

You may not need a new monitor, though, and that’s okay! Are you considering streaming instead? You may remember my article about the Razer Seiren Emote microphone yesterday, and that’s still on sale for just $100! That’s not the only good Razer microphone on sale, though. There’s also the Razer Seiren X, which has all the same properties as the Seiren Emote, just without the LED emotes playing on the microphone. The Seiren X normally retails at $100 (the current sale price for the Emote), but you can pick it up at Amazon for $81. Not bad! If these microphones are too much, though, and you want something simple, the Razer Seiran Mini is always available for just $50.

Razer Seiren Emote Microphone

Buy at Amazon

Razer Seiren X Microphone

Buy at Amazon

Razer Seiren Mini Microphone

Buy at Best Buy

And of course, let’s not forget the keyboards! Razer is probably most well known for their click mechanical keyboards with the company’s crafted switches, so you know you can’t have a round-up without them. Razer’s most premium mechanical keyboard, the BlackWidow Elite, is currently on a hefty $47 discount at Amazon and a slightly less hefty $40 discount at Best Buy. If you’re looking for a tenkeyless keyboard instead, the BlackWidow TE Chroma v2 is down to $90 at Amazon. The TKL has the same build quality as the Elite but nixes the numerical keypad and media controls to offer more space. Pretty nice!

Razer BlackWidow Elite

Buy at Amazon

Razer BlackWidow Elite

Buy at Best Buy

Razer BlackWidow TE Chroma v2

Buy at Amazon

Are you looking for even more deals? Check out Razer’s Amazon page–you’ll be sure to find even more great discounts.

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Motorola launches the Edge S, a budget flagship 5G phone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870

Motorola today launched the Motorola Edge S, an affordable flagship smartphone with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 870 chipset. At a starting price of just CNY 1999 (~$309), the Edge S is one of the best value-for-money smartphones on the market. When it launches internationally, it’ll no doubt be priced a bit higher because of import/export costs, GMS licensing, IP rating certification, etc. but it’ll still be one of the cheapest budget flagships on the market. We’ll of course cover the device’s launch when it releases outside of China, but for now, here’s a preview of what to expect.

Under-the-hood, the Motorola Edge S is the first phone to feature the Snapdragon 870. Announced earlier this month, the Snapdragon 870 is essentially a Snapdragon 865++. It features a faster “Prime” core clocked at 3.2GHz and presumably the same GPU speed improvements as the Snapdragon 865+, but in all other aspects, it’s the same chipset powering the majority of 2020’s Android flagships. Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 888 definitely benchmarks higher than the Snapdragon 865 and, by extension, it likely outperforms the Snapdragon 870, but you won’t be missing out on much by choosing a phone with the Snapdragon 870 over one with the Snapdragon 888.

The Snapdragon 870 will be paired with 6 or 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and 128 or 256GB of UFS 3.1 storage, the latter of which is expandable with an up to 1TB microSDXC card. More importantly, the Snapdragon 870 is paired with a discrete Snapdragon X55 modem, which allows the Motorola Edge S to connect to sub-6GHz 5G networks.

What else do you get with the Motorola Edge S? It has a 6.7-inch LCD panel at a 2520×1080 resolution, making it quite tall. Unlike the other two devices in the Motorola Edge series, the Edge S doesn’t have a curved display, but it does offer a higher than normal refresh rate at 90Hz. A Full HD+ LCD at 90Hz is definitely a step down from the Quad HD+ OLEDs at 120Hz found in a few flagships from 2020 and 2021’s Galaxy S21 Ultra, but it’ll likely satisfy most users out there.

Powering the whole device is an ample 5,000mAh battery which can be recharged using a 20W wired charger. No fast wired or even wireless charging is definitely one of the big compromises here, but that’s what we’d expect given the low price. Fortunately, the 3.5mm headphone jack was not cut from the device. Also, for those of you who like physical fingerprint scanners, you’ll be happy to know there’s a side-mounted scanner.

The triple cameras are also pretty standard: A 64MP main image sensor is joined by an 8MP ultra wide-angle sensor and a 2MP depth sensor. Underneath the dual hole-punch cutouts on the front are two cameras: a 16MP main and an 8MP ultra wide-angle image sensor.

The software experience is where things get interesting. The Motorola Edge S runs Android 11 out-of-the-box and is the first phone from Motorola to support the company’s new desktop mode software, which we exclusively detailed early last month. Motorola is selling a dock that you can use to connect your phone to an external display like a TV or monitor. Given Motorola’s track record, we don’t expect this device will get an OS update beyond Android 12, though.

Specification	Motorola Edge S
Dimensions & Weight	168.38 x 73.97 x 9.69mm 215g
Display	6.7-inch LCD 90Hz refresh rate Full HD+ (2520×1080) resolution 21:9 aspect ratio HDR10 support Dual hole-punch cutout
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 CPU 1x ARM Cortex-A77 @ 3.2GHz 3x ARM Cortex-A77 @ 2.4GHz 4x ARM Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz GPU Adreno 650 Fabricated on TSMC’s advanced 7nm process
RAM & Storage	6/8GB LPDDR5 128/256GB UFS 3.1 Expandable with an up to 1TB microSDXC card
Battery & Charging	5000mAh 20W wired charging No wireless charging
Security	Side-mounted fingerprint scanner
Rear Camera(s)	64MP main, PDAF 16MP wide-angle, PDAF 2MP depth sensor, fixed-focus
Front Camera(s)	16MP main + 8MP wide-angle
Port(s)	USB Type-C (DisplayPort Alternate Mode output)
Audio	3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity	Snapdragon X55 modem (discrete) WiFi 6 support Bluetooth 5.1 NFC Dual-frequency GNSS
Software	Android 11

The Motorola Edge S is on pre-sale in China, but it will very likely debut internationally in the near future under the Moto G100 name, according to Evan Blass. Blass also reports that the Moto G10 and Moto G30 may also arrive alongside the Moto G100. This will undoubtedly make Motorola’s Moto G lineup even more confusing, but it’s hard to argue against the value on offer.

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Google announces Chrome OS 88 with easier web sign in and lock screen personalization

Google on Tuesday announced an update to Chrome OS that includes a couple of new features designed to improve the everyday experience. The update—Chrome OS 88—is available beginning today.

One of the new features is faster and easier web sign-in. Rather than inputting a long password, Chrome OS 88 will allow users to securely sign in to websites with a PIN or fingerprint that’s setup with Google’s new Web Authentication (WebAuthn) feature.

“Websites that support WebAuthn will let you use your Chromebook PIN or fingerprint ID—if your Chromebook has a fingerprint reader—instead of the password you’ve set for the website,” Google said. “And if you use 2-Step Verification to sign-in, your Chromebook PIN or fingerprint ID can be used as the second factor, so you no longer need to pull out your security key or phone to authenticate.”

Websites that support WebAuthn include Dropbox, Github, and Okta.

In addition to faster and easier web sign-in, Chrome OS 88 also includes personalized lock screen features. Now, you can pick your favorite photos from Google Photos or choose from hundreds of art gallery images. You can also use the lock screen to check information like the current weather and what music is playing. To use these features for yourself, go to Chrome OS Settings > Personalization > Screen saver.

Whether you have a Chromebook or you’re planning to purchase one of the many Chromebooks announced at CES 2021, these new additions in Chrome OS 88 should greatly improve your daily experience. I’m particularly excited about the lock screen customization, because it essentially turns a Chromebook into a smart display.

In the last major Chrome OS update, Google introduced several helpful new features, including tab search, Bluetooth battery level in settings, and new wallpaper options. Google said that more features are set to be announced for Chrome OS in March.

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